The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday made an appeal to overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon to "seriously consider" the voluntary repatriation program of the government as the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas spilled over its neighboring countries.
In an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Eduardo de Vega said OFWs in Lebanon should decide as early as possible due to the rising tension between Israel and the Islamist group Hezbollah.
"We wish to advise Filipinos in Lebanon to seriously consider the voluntary repatriation program being undertaken by the Philippine Embassy in Beirut," De Vega said.
"It is best to leave as early as possible, while tensions are rising and it is still possible to book commercial flights to Manila," he added.
He continued: "You are our heroes but there are times when discretion is the better part of valor, and we wish to see you safe."
According to the DFA, there are an estimated 17,500 Filipinos in Lebanon, 67 of them reside on the southern border of Lebanon.
In a separate advisory, the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon called on Filipinos, particularly those who are on the southern border of Lebanon to accept the voluntary repatriation.
Interested Filipinos must fill out the online repatriation form at https://tinyurl.com/2023Repatriation. They may also contact the Migrant Workers Office hotline at +96179110729 or the ATN hotline at +96170858086.
Since the surprise attack of the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic extremist Hamas in Israel on 7 October which left 1,400 Israelis dead, including four Filipinos, Israel and Lebanon also caught themselves in the middle of military clashes.
Last week, at least five Hezbollah fighters were killed in a series of low-level skirmishes with Israel.